Texans running back Ben Tate is brought down by 49ers inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite during the first quarter.

Texans running back Ben Tate is brought down by 49ers inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite during the first quarter.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Texans running back Arian Foster looks for room to run against the 49ers defense.

Texans running back Arian Foster looks for room to run against the 49ers defense.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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49ers defensive back Perrish Cox brings down Texans tight end Owen Daniels during the first quarter.

49ers defensive back Perrish Cox brings down Texans tight end Owen Daniels during the first quarter.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Texans quarterback Matt Schaub heads toward the bench during the second quarter.

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub heads toward the bench during the second quarter.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick throws a pass during the second quarter.

49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick throws a pass during the second quarter.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Texans fans shows their support at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

Texans fans shows their support at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Texans fans shows their support at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

Texans fans shows their support at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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49ers cheerleaders take the field before the first quarter.

49ers cheerleaders take the field before the first quarter.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Texans fans shows their support at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

Texans fans shows their support at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Texans running back Arian Foster warms up before facing the 49ers.

Texans running back Arian Foster warms up before facing the 49ers.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Texans were wretched, but good local TV audience for Sunday night game

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Given the appalling state of the Texans’ performance, Houston TV viewers showed remarkable patience in dealing with their wayward team Sunday night. Then again, maybe they were just waiting to see if T.J. Yates was going to get a chance to step in for Matt Schaub.

At any rate, the game had a 27.5 Nielsen rating and 40 share on NBC, meaning it was viewed by an average audience of 629,574 of the 20-county area’s 2.2 million TV households. Average viewers should be at least 900,000 and could top a million.

The national overnight on NBC was 11.6, down a tenth of a point from the Chargers-Saints game on this weekend a year ago. The game had a 22.4/41 rating/share in San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose.

Meanwhile, the Denver-Dallas aerial circus on CBS had an 18.6 overnight Nielsen rating in the CBS doubleheader window. Denver led at 42.9, but Dallas-Fort Worth was third at 29.9, one slot behind Kansas City at 33.3. Weird.

Elsewhere, the game rated 25.9 in San Antonio, 24.8 in Austin and 18.2 on KHOU (Channel 11) in Houston.

Still waiting on locals, but here are the national Nielsen overnights for the weekend: